Managing Tasks

When we want something from another person, we generally don’t know what steps are involved to get it done.

And that’s mainly why we are asking them to do that task for us – because we don’t know everything that goes into doing it right.

As the person who is then implementing that task, the challenge then becomes, how do you keep them updated on your work if they don’t know what has to be done to make it work?

There are one of two options in front of you;

1. “Get it done and let me know the problems you went through later” –  this option enables maximum freedom to get it done as you see fit, but when they see what it took to get there, their joy might be short-lived.
2. “Explain it to me so we can figure it out” – this option opens up the client to learn about what you are doing, and the steps you have to go through, but then opens you to risk because they might start slicing and dicing tasks you know they will come to regret.

In the end, there is a balance to the delivery, it’s a bit of column A and a bit of column B to ensure you complete the task as directed.

What is most important is that you are the one setting the tasks and updating them as expected for what YOU need to deliver the project.  If you are not doing this, then you aren’t delivering your work, you’re delivering what they think your work is, and that is scary.